Cantor Responds!

Back on May 20, I wrote Eric Cantor, my representative about the Internet Radio Equality Act. I received a response today, in a letter dated June 17 (I can't say anything -- when I get slammed my turn around time tends to slip, too). As promised, here's Rep. Cantor's reply to my correspondence.

Dear Mr. Graves:

Thank you for contacting me in opposition to increased royalties imposed on internet radio by the Copyright Royalty Board. I appreciate hearing from you and having the benefit of your views. [Good start -- it's not a form letter.]

The Copyright Royalty Board is composed of three Copyright Royalty Judges [that would be Moe, Larry and Curly] within the Library of Congress who determine rates and terms for the copyright statutory licenses. On March 2, 2007, the Copyright Royalty Board announced its decision to increase the royalties internet radio broadcasters pay to copyright holders for the use of their songs. [I know -- that's why I wrote. But I'm glad Cantor's up to speed.]

The Internet Radio Equality Act (H.R. 2060) would nullify the CRB's decision to raise rates for webcasters and would establish a royalty rate-setting standard for all radio. This bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary Committee. To date, no further action has been taken on this matter. You may be assured that I will keep your opposition to increased royalties in mind should this legislation come before me in the House of Representatives. [Well, not quite. I don't disagree that the rates should be raised -- just not higher than anyone can possibly pay. Close enough, though.]

Again, thank you for contacting me. For your convenience, you can receive further information from me on issues important to the 7th District at http://cantor.house.gov. [Yep. And I can do so through OpenCongress.org as well.] Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

And there it is. Of course, there's one thing I'm still not quite sure about. And that is where does Rep. Cantor stand on the issue? Hmmm. Perhaps it's time for another e-mail.

So is Cantor for or against the Act? Vote in the poll on the left. Maybe collectively we can correctly parse this correspondence.

- Ralph

Day 15 of the WJMA Web Watch.